Utility man Chris Taylor opted out of his deal after the Los Angeles Angels informed him he wouldn’t make the roster, per Ken Rosenthal.
Taylor spent most of the offseason as a free agent, and the Angels took a chance on him with a minor league deal at the start of spring training.
Chris Taylor opted out of his deal with the Angels and has been informed he will not make the club, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2026
Taylor joined the Angels in 2025 after spending 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he didn’t find much success with the Halos. He played just 30 games after signing in May 2025, landing on the injured list twice with a hand injury.
He hit two homers for the team, driving in 10 total runs, and slashed .179/.278/.321 throughout his time with the Angels last season.
Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Chris Taylor against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Taylor didn’t have much of a spot on the team after underperforming for most of 2025, especially with all of the emerging talent in the Halos’ outfield. Josh Lowe and Bryce Teodosio are likely to make the Opening Day roster, and the Angels also have Jo Adell, Jorge Soler and Mike Trout to play on the grass.
Taylor has found himself teamless once more despite his valuable veteran presence and former All-Star production, and will hope to rejoin a team to break back into MLB. He told David Vassegh he wasn’t done just yet on Dodger Talk earlier in the offseason.
“Oh no, I’m still playing,” Taylor said to David Vassegh on Dodger Talk. “Don’t pull the cord on me yet, Vassegh. No, I’m still playing. I’m down here in Arizona working out. Um, you know, I… I don’t know where it’s going to be yet, obviously with free agency being the way it is, but, um, I will be playing again this coming season.”